I Blame Wattpad for My High Expectations of Men

Chapter 71 - She can be extremely scary when Sour Patch Kids are involved.

~Friday, December 30, 2016~

~Ace Rivers's Point of View~

        It's been twenty consecutive days since I last touched her, saw her or even spoke to her...and it's fucking killing me. Not in that sappy ass way that those over exaggerating couples feel after not having heard from their significant other in the last hour, but in an excruciating -and very much real- emotional and physical way.

        I've been sulking in my bed ever since winter break started, doing nothing more than exchanging a word every now and then with Riley -nine out of ten times, it's just been me telling her that I'm not hungry- and stalking Lola's social media accounts.

        At first, I told myself not to be that guy. You know, the guy who screws up the one good thing he had going for him in life, only to shamelessly set notifications for whenever she posts something new. But in all honesty, it's the only thing I look forward to in the morning, while I drink my problems away at night.

        Speaking of drinks, I could go for another one right about now.

        Groaning as my lazy ass falls out of bed, I somehow manage to stand up without developing any colorful bruises. I throw on the first clothes I find and head downstairs, internally apologizing to Riley when I ignore whatever question it is that she asked me on my way out.

        I love my sister to the moon and back, but not even she can get me out of the funk that my dumb ass put itself in.

***

        I walk for what feels like miles, but is really only a few blocks down our street, until I finally reach the local bar that's more or less been my second home these last few weeks. Wincing at the sound of the little bell above the door that goes off when I walk inside, as I feel a small headache coming along, I take the first open bar stool that I see.

"The usual?" Nico, the head bartender and owner, asks me.

"Yeah, and make it a triple this time."

He whistles low, checking the time on his watch.

"Damn. Already?"

"Says the guy who runs a bar that's opened from noon to midnight."

"Touché," he smirks, finally getting started on the damn drinks.

        As soon as the first one is slid my way, I knock it down in one go. Same thing happens with the second and third before I'm calling for another round. Round two soon becomes round five, and before I can even begin to protest, some girl perches herself up on the bar stool next to me.

"Not interested," I deadpan, not even bothering to look at her. Whatever the hell she looks like, she can't possibly be prettier than Lo, neither inside nor out. No one even dares to come close.

"What?" She giggles sarcastically, the pitch of her high voice only intensifying the now aggravating pain in my head. "You got a girl back home or something?" She reaches for my arm, but I grab her wrist before she can even lay a finger on me.

        She winces, while I use my other hand to take another sip of my drink.

"She is my home," I simply state the truth before slightly tightening my grip around the girl's wrist, just enough to get my point across. "Now, unless you want to be the first female I ever physically hurt, I suggest you walk the fuck away from me and try seducing someone you actually have a chance of getting in bed with."